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Monday, November 26, 2012

KU football coach Charlie Weis thrilled for former Notre Dame players on brink of national title

By Matt Tait

Kansas coach Charlie Weis speaks during the Big 12 college football media days on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in Dallas.

Kansas coach Charlie Weis speaks during the Big 12 college football media days on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in Dallas.

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Kansas University football coach Charlie Weis usually refers to Notre Dame with vague descriptions.

“The place I used to work,” “my previous job” or “that other school,” all have been used by Weis as substitutes for the university from which he graduated in 1978 and later coached from 2005-09.

While some have chosen to read that as Weis still being upset by his firing following the 2009 season, it’s more likely Weis chose that route out of respect to his current school and his current job.

With the Fighting Irish having locked up a spot in this year’s BCS national championship game, Weis, once again on Monday morning’s Big 12 coaches conference call, was asked for his thoughts about the Irish’s success, a 12-0 run made by many of his former players and recruits.

“The most important thing for me is to make sure that I stay low profile and don’t try to take accolades for their success,” Weis said. “I think it’s real easy for a guy in my position to sit there and say, ‘Yeah, they’re all my kids they’re winning with,’ or be jealous and bitter and all that other stuff.”

He’s not. Really. If anything, Weis, who is known by his current and former players for developing deep, personal connections with the guys who lay it on the line for him, seems genuinely thrilled for the handful of guys he recruited — eight of the 11 Notre Dame starters on offense and a couple of high-impact defensive starters, including potential Heisman Trophy finalist, linebacker Manti Te’o — who are on the brink of playing for a national championship.

“Take Manti, for example,” Weis said. “I love Manti. Manti and I will be close the rest of our lives, as will his family and I. But I think it’s important for me to understand it’s their team, it’s not my team. I have to worry about Kansas. But there (are) a lot of young men that are having a lot of success this year that I’m very, very happy for.”

Comments

mcrckchlk 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Good man, that Charlie Weis.

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hawk316 5 months, 4 weeks ago

The more I read about this guy, the more impressed I am with the kind of person he is. We're fortunate to have such a quality individual representing the University of Kansas. I think the guy can coach and recruit, as well.

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squawkhawk 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Yeah, quality guy with great character...not taking credit for the success of a team he was fired from 3 years ago. Hell of a guy!

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mdlund0 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Matt, Charlie Weis did not play football at Notre Dame. He attended and graduated from Notre Dame, but he watched football from the stands. Just a point that needs clarification.

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Matt Tait 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Yeah, called it his alma mater in a later draft but posted the wrong one. Thanks for the catch.

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classclown 5 months, 4 weeks ago

And all that was necessary for them to make it was to get rid of Charlie Weis.

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JayhawkBigXII 5 months, 4 weeks ago

We don't know what could've happened if CW stayed at ND, but according to Lew Holtz, all you have to do is stick your head out the window, give a holler, and a dozen all-americans come running.

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jgkojak 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Well, the point is that he recruited the core of a team that will play for a N.C.

That's all we can ask -

from what I have seen, his Xs and Os are fine, he just needs the talent.

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clevelandjayhawker 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Nice to hear Coach and KU football get a little love during the usc/nd game. was actually thinking why hasnt kusports done an article about the connections HCCW has to some of his former players yet.

This to me only adds to the resume for Coach Weis, which in turn helps KU football. Rock Chalk.

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Sybesma 5 months, 4 weeks ago

If I remember correctly Keegan did an article on it. About a month ago.

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clevelandjayhawker 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Maybe I couldnt get past the riddle, aka the first paragraph, so I dont remember it.

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Sybesma 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Has anyone heard any news about Memorial Stadium renovations or a new stadium?

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swunruhawk 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Until Memorial Stadium has the seats consistently filled, no renovations are necessary. A year from now, let's hope there is a reason to discuss upgrades to the stadium.

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jhawk613 5 months, 4 weeks ago

The KU Athletic Department sent a survey out several months back that wanted to gauge interest in club seats, a hybrid of suite/stadium seat and a field level club/lounge similar to what is in the Dallas Cowboys stadium.

Basically they wanted to know how much people would be willing to pay/donate to the Williams Fund on top of season ticket prices for these upgrades.

Not sure what will come of the survey results, but it does tell me that Zenger and KU are looking at how to improve the overall fan experience at Memorial Stadium. Personally, I don't care, but I think the anti-track fan club will appreciate this.

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JHWKDW 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Get rid of the Horseshoe. Fill in the east side with seats, and luxury boxes. I hate that empty spot on the east side of the Stadium, Maybe put up more seats on the north and south side of the stadium. Also put up a TV screen on both the east and west side.

Get rid of the track, get a new track and field stadium.

Just my thoughts to improve Memorial Stadium.

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Algoldendomer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Leave it to Charlie Weis to take credit for Notre Dame's success this year. As if ND could not have recruited without him. Weis hasn't changed - it's still all about Charlie. Bottom line is this - his tenure at Notre Dame was marked by excellent talent being left undisciplined and undeveloped, and it took two solid years for those players to be expunged of the reek of losing and to learn how to win. And that is what separates a successful head coach from a losing head coach - the ability to develop players and motivate them to win games. Weis continues to have not a clue in either area, as his soon-to-be 1-11 season proves (one win fewer than last season, despite the ND transfers).

And you may wish to check the recruiting rankings for the 2013 class - ND (sans Weis, believe it or not) is #2 with 13 4/5 star recruits and KU is nowhere near the top-50 (with no 4/5 star recruits and a 2.8 star average). Don't take credit for that which you have no business taking credit for, Weis. And sooner than later, the folks in Lawrence are going to see through the line of BS you've sold them there, too.

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Sayers44 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Read the article --Wies is going out of his way to not take credit....

But some credit is due Wies as he recruited them...

The article fairly spells is out.

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Algoldendomer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

I did read the article. The humble thing would have been to say "I'm real happy those guys are doing so well." And stop there. Instead he says "it would be real easy to take credit..." No it wouldn't. You'd have to live on another planet to take credit for ND's success THREE YEARS after getting your butt fired from the place. You say he's going out of his way NOT to take credit - this article is Charlie's way of taking credit, and of puffing up Charlie, ignoring the lack of success he had at ND and his inability to turn around the Jayhawks' program (oh, and look how UF has done after he turned tail - 7-6 to 11-1).

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JayhawkInAustin 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Jeez, guy, go celebrate your national championship level season. How big a jerk do you have to be to come here and troll? Leave us to suffer our godawful season and godawful program in peace.

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master16 5 months, 4 weeks ago

lol I'm pretty sure what he means is when CW says he won't take the credit and accolades for their success he basically reminded everyone that he recruited the kids, putting in our minds that he should get credit for it. it's like a smart way of doing it. CW is a crafty guy so take it as you will. and I'm not a ND troll or anything. just saying it as I see it, and what I think algolden meant to say.

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jhox 5 months, 4 weeks ago

How do you get off giving a Coach a hard time for feeling happy that the kids he recruited (and is obvious fond of) are having a lot of success? Let's discuss classless...I suggest you look in the mirror, and you'll see what classless is really all about.

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JJHAWK 5 months, 4 weeks ago

and you are on the KU message board because . . .?

j - just

e-evangelical

r-road

k-kill

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Kirk 5 months, 4 weeks ago

It's illogical to complain about Weis when you consider he's replaced Gill. It's easy to imagine what options KU realistically had on the table this time around: not many. In that context, Weis was a good get, and he's made the team much more competitive. Check back in 3-4 years.

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CWTIII33 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Weis with pats (tom brady made him) weis with nd (never beat a good team) Weis in kansas city (offense sucked) weis in florida (offense sucked) Weis in kansas 1-10

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squawkhawk 5 months, 3 weeks ago

And KSU's recruiting class is similar to KU's (as it is every year). It's not about the Jimmy's and the Joe's, it's about the X's and the O's.

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keithii 5 months, 4 weeks ago

If you're so bitter why are you checking out the KU Sports page? By the way, a hallmark of Coach Weis this year has been discipline and development. Stay tuned.

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milehighhawk 5 months, 4 weeks ago

To be honest, the ND trolls have a fair point.

I heard the audio before I read the article, and it's a classic "humble-brag." It was pretty crafty of Weis, really. With his words, he takes the high road and claims he won't take "credit," then goes into "how easy it would be" to take credit because of x, y, and z.

It doesn't take too much to read between the lines here. Weis says he wants to keep a "low profile" on that kind of talk, which means he'll mention it Night & Day to recruits -- but not in front of a hot mic.

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rockchalker52 5 months, 4 weeks ago

You heard that 'humble brag' phrase on the radio.

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NikeCortez 5 months, 4 weeks ago

And he brings up Te'o of course...who he didnt even recruit. Brian Polian landed both Te'o and Toma...Weis is a blowhard. Enjoy the ride folks.

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TheMightyComet 5 months, 4 weeks ago

I think Charlie is "Humble-bragging" for the sake of recruiting. He can tell prospective recruits "Hey look, the kids I recruited are playing for the National Championship. I know talent when I see it and I want you to come play for me.".

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Emery 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Charlie is a good natured blabbermouth and name-dropper, but his humbleness is quite shallow. I hope he demonstrates the ability to coach KU football to six-seven wins a year for at least two years before he resigns. He is a decent person who appears to know his X's and O's. .

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Kirk 5 months, 4 weeks ago

It remains to be seen whether Charlie is too smart by half to win college games. He knows his X's and O's so well he's tangled in them. But he's lots better than Gill.

And he's not here to talk about ND and how he recruited so many of their players, but about Kansas. Not ND!

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squawkhawk 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Yeah, he is a lot better than a 2 win Turner Gill. (sarcasm).

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tdhawk 5 months, 4 weeks ago

You can say what you want about Charlie, but he left ND way better than he found it. He was able to get some things for the FB program that his predecessors were able unable persuade the administration that they were necessary for success. His being an alum undoubtedly helped considerably. There isn't a HC out there that is successful that is painfully humble. He helped to upgrade the facilities and most critically he was able to boost the pay for all the asst coaches at ND, and not just FB. He certainly made his share of mistakes and can certainly rub people the wrong way. (It would be a rare person from New Jersey that didn't rub people in the Midwest the wrong way.) A major obstacle for him at ND was his predecessor who signed 2 lineman one year. Not 2 DLs or 2 OLs but just 2 linemen. Hard to play FB with 2 linemen. Charlie recruited well; better than those who immediately preceded him. And he laid the foundation for this year's team's success. That being said; he's no Brian Kelly or Lou Holtz or Ara. But he was a pretty good bridge for ND.

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Kirk 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Charlie and KU both need the exact same thing: to stay with each other for a considerable stretch of time. Five years at the very least. That way Charlie gets a chance to recruit guys and establish a program. And KU can't afford (literally or figuratively) to flip coaches anytime soon.

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Algoldendomer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

In his 3rd year under the Dome, Mr. Weis went 3-9. Not Faust, not Willingham, not Davie - it was Weis who had the worst ND season since 1964. Compare that with Brian Kelly's 3rd year. If he were even a mediocre coach, his 3rd year would have surpassed his first two, but he was so inept that he won 3 games! Against a UCLA team that had lost its starting QB, against Duke! and somebody else who was pitiful. I still don't understand how he survived for five years, when Willingham was toast after 3.

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pepper_bar 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Two days after pointlessly dragging Turner Gill's name through the mud again, Matt comes up with the puffiest of puff pieces for the current coach.

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JHWKDW 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Yeah Matt Coach Gill was not a bad guy, he just did not get the job done, and we parted ways no bad feelings lets just move on please! No more dragging him though the Mud move on!

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JHWKDW 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Lets face facts, after Lou Holtz left Notre Dame, that team was not the same after 1996, Notre Dame was never the team it was under Holtz, Davie, and Willingham had bad results prior to Coach Weis. Weis did produce better recruits than Davie or Willingham ever did. I agree Weis did leave it better than Davie or Willingham ever did, but I do not think Weis is taking any credit for NDs season. Kelly did it, and I do not think Weis took anything away from Coach Kelly.

Man Id be happy Weis could give us 6 to 8 wins every season, that is the long term goal, make us a team that KU fans and other teams can respect.I would be happy with those amount of wins every season. Hey like I and other people have said, if and when the Big 12 falls apart, if we got a decent respectable football team, conferences like the Big 10, or Pac-12 will look at KU more.

I will say this for Coach Weis, I think we have played better "Old Man Football" than a certain you know who in Black and Gold. Hey we ran the ball better than them so far. I think Kansas in the long run may be better football to watch than the Pro KC Chiefs. Maybe it is just me, but I see better playing from KU football than the Chiefs in the future in football. Hey the Crimson and Blue football looked better than Red & Gold this season maybe that is not saying much, but hey you got to start somewhere right LOL!

Nah it is going to take some time to get it all together, but I like what I have seen so far. A team that hung with 2 top 25 ranked teams. It is a start.

I think Dr. Zenger is trying to turn KU Athletics around. Look at the Volleyball program, I know you say to me volleyball, but hey Zenger wants winners here in all of KU sports. I think he is using the Stanford model, and no more 1 trick pony for Kansas. I know and am proud of KU Basketball and its history, but we have to move forward and not just have 1 sport alone in the spotlight! It may have been good in the Big 8 days, but not today. I think Zenger wants a winner in Football, and that is what matters, and is awesome compared to the past ADs who were here.

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Algoldendomer 5 months, 4 weeks ago

12-8-5-3-2-1

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jaykan7 5 months, 4 weeks ago

If that 12 was a 13 and we continue decsending to winning 1 game next year and then 0 games in 2014. We have an example of a decsending fibonacci sequence. Sorry I am a numbers guy.

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tundrahok 5 months, 3 weeks ago

It's also called exponential decay.

w = 2E+308e-0.488t, R² = 0.9936

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vd 5 months, 4 weeks ago

Ron Prince recruited the current KSU Srs. We could probably place CW and Prince on the same coaching level.

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